Giant Colors

Giant Colors is the solo project of Atlanta's Bret Reagan (DAMS, Triop, Psychedubosaurus Rex, Lotus Quadrant) and well worth your time to experience.

A Short Vacation derives its name from Reagan's previous Planning A Short Vacation by his Triop outfit.

New Shows

I finally got the Upcoming Shows gadget over there to the right working again and apparently just in time as there have been a lot of announcements today about new concerts coming up in Atlanta.  The most exciting of these announcements, IMHO, is Portland's folk-rock orchestra Typhoon finally coming to town (March 17), and playing at what is perhaps my favorite venue, Terminal West, one of the few stages in town large enough to accommodate the large band.

Back on October 28, 2001, when we saw her play a sold-out and packed Earl, we knew we'd never see St. Vincent perform in a venue that small again.  Since then, she's moved up to Variety Playhouse (May 2012), and then the Cobb Energy Center (October 2012) with David Byrne.  

Today, it was announced that she'll next be playing Atlanta on March 8 at the large Tabernacle to support her upcoming album.  The first song from the album is below. 

Meanwhile, back at The Earl, Portland's Blouse will be opening on March 20 for Brooklyn's Dum Dum Girls, who recently told Brooklyn Vegan that their favorite artist of 2013 was our old friend Jessica Pratt.

Finally, it's been announced that New York's Vampire Weekend will be playing Atlanta's majestic Fox Theater on May 5. 

Not bad for one day . . . 

West Meets East

As we settle into the month of December and the end of 2013, I'm as surprised as anybody to find myself becoming more and more thankful to be living here in Atlanta with its multiple resources and outlets for new music.  If I'm not careful, the rest of this month might be spent extolling the virtues of the local music scene, both the performers and musicians, the venues, and those behind the scenes making it all happen.

F'rinstance, take this video released today by the kind folks over at IndieATL from a set at their Georgia State studio by Portland's Dresses.

Dave Nelson Coming To The Goat Farm

Dave Nelson (right) performing with St. Vincent

As if further evidence of the diversity of Atlanta's music scene was necessary, loop-crazed Brooklyn-based trombonist Dave Nelson will be performing with Atlanta drummer Marlon Patton at The Goat Farm on December 18.  Video artist Lana Vogestad will be contributing to the performance.

We last saw Dave Nelson as part of the David Byrne-St. Vincent Love This Giant brass band.  But to help prepare us for what the evening may hold in store, here are some examples of Nelson's solo work.

Video artist Lana Vogestad has been an artist in residence in Greece and Iceland and has collaborated with musicians in the past, most recently at the Atlanta Film Festival's Sound + Vision event.  

Adorableness Alert

Here's Atlanta's Little Tybee doing a living room show in Amarillo, Texas, and practically getting upstaged by a dancing little girl.

In related news, Little Tybee will be playing The Earl on Saturday, December 14, along with The Shadowboxers.

Warpaint

Warpaint at Bumbershoot, 2011

In these dark winter nights filled with reports of the deaths of great men, we receive this happy, best-possible-outcome, best-of-all-worlds news - Warpaint are releasing a new album, which of course means a supporting tour will be in the works.  Back in the summer of 2011, they sold out The Earl before I bought my tickets, but seeing them that year at Bumbershoot was one of the highlights of that year's festival. 

Here's their song Biggy from the forthcoming album, sounding as luminous and harmonic as ever.   

Okay, here's another track from the new album as well: